If You Don't Know Me By Now

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Pete And Amelia Are Torn Over A Life-Saving Procedure
By Moira McMahon, Researcher

In Episode 411, "If You Don't Know Me By Now," genius inventor Corey Ramsey is rushed into St. Ambrose after a terrible car accident. His brain is swelling and Pete and Amelia know that without surgery, Corey will die.

Pete and Amelia tell Corey's wife, Patricia, about the surgery, which could save his life but has the side effect of reducing brain function. Patricia refuses the surgery, claiming that Corey would rather die than be less than brilliant.

Amelia understand Patricia's position. Would Amelia want to live if she could never be a doctor again? Pete pushes for the surgery. He's horrified that Patricia would rather have Corey die than be less intelligent.

Corey's mistress, Janel, arrives and becomes despondent when she finds out that Patricia will not let Corey have the life-saving procedure needed to ease the pressure in his skull.

But when Corey seizes, Amelia and Pete know if they don't do the surgery soon, Corey will die.

This is also when Janel reveals that she is carrying Corey's baby. A furious Patricia is surprised to hear that Corey was looking forward to being a father with his mistress, something he never seemed interested in doing with her. Patricia realizes that she doesn't know her husband as well as she thought she did.

Patricia is forced to accept the fact that although she has the legal right to make medical decisions for Corey, the person who knows him best is Janel. She leaves the hospital, letting Janel make the decision on whether or not to save Corey.

Corey goes into surgery. When he comes out, he no longer has his wife or his intellect, but he is alive. He also has Janel and their soon-to-be born child to help him through the hard months of rehabilitation ahead.

Was Pete wrong in pushing for the surgery? Would Corey want to live now that his quality of life has diminished?

Faced with a patient like Corey, what would YOU do?